-
An 2019 clip of a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump has resurfaced.
-
In the clip, Trump suggests Zelenskyy “get together” with Vladimir Putin to solve their “problem.”
-
In response, Zelenskyy appears to give Trump a look of wide-eyed shock and disgust.
An old video has resurfaced on Twitter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appearing to look alarmed and disgusted at then-President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Zelenskyy “get together” with Russian President Vladimir Putin to solve their “problem.”
The video was taken during a meeting on September 25, 2019, between Zelenskyy and Trump, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. At the time, the meeting made the news for other reasons — namely, the release of a shocking memo of a call between the two during which Trump sought to pressure the Ukrainian leader to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
Initially posted by a journalist, Aaron Rupar, in 2019, the video was reposted by the historian Heather Cox Richardson, a professor at Boston College, on Tuesday.
As of press time, the tweet had been retweeted more than 6,000 times and liked about 26,000 times. The original video from Rupar has now been viewed more than 2.4 million times.
In the clip, Trump leaned toward Zelenskyy and loudly said: “I really hope that you and President Putin can get together and solve your problem.”
At the time, Russian-backed troops were involved in smaller-scale military skirmishes in the Donbas region of Ukraine.
“That would be a tremendous achievement,” Trump said. “And I know you’re trying to do that.”
Zelenskyy’s eyes widened after the suggestion, and he did not reply to the US leader.
Zoomed-in versions of the 2019 clip were also widely retweeted on Twitter, showing a clearer picture of Zelenskyy’s response.
During the same session at the UN, Trump also, on record, urged Zelenskyy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. Zelenskyy later responded to press questions, saying he had an “independent country” and couldn’t “push anyone” to carry out investigations.
Trump was impeached for the first time several months after this meeting, in December 2019, for attempting to solicit Ukraine’s interference in the 2020 election while withholding essential military aid to the country.
Read the original article on Business Insider